Origin
Russellville, AL
Night in Russellville on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russellville, AL to Huntsville, AL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
72.5 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russellville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Huntsville, AL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Russellville to Huntsville, expect a straightforward 72.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to easily complete the drive without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel, making this an economical transit between these two Southeast Alabama hubs. Since the route is primarily highway-focused, you will spend most of your time on the road moving steadily toward your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes efficiency over exploration, perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B reliably. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the simplicity of this drive makes it a manageable experience for any driver.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Highway 24 | 36.1 mi | 43m |
| I 565 | 19.3 mi | 20m |
| AL 24 | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Huntsville-Decatur Highway | 3 mi | 3m |
| 6th Avenue Northeast | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Moulton Street West | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Jackson Avenue North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Jefferson Street North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Alabama Highway 24
— 36.1 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russellville, AL and Huntsville, AL.
1
Start on Jackson Avenue North
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Jackson Avenue North
2
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto AL 24
36 mi
·
43 min
·
Alabama Highway 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on AL 24
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
AL 24
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on Moulton Street West
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Moulton Street West
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 31
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
6th Avenue Northeast
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 72 Alternate; AL 20
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Huntsville-Decatur Highway
Toward Huntsville
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on I 565; US 72 Alternate
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 565; US 72 Alternate
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
10
Continue on this road
395 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
Exit 19C
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
11
Keep slight right at fork
343 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Jefferson Street North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Street North
13
Turn right onto Spring Street Southwest
4 ft
·
0 sec
·
Spring Street Southwest
14
Arrive at destination
Spring Street Southwest
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.3 miles from Russellville, AL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 71.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
AL 24 / Alabama Highway 24
At end of road, turn left onto AL 24 / Alabama Highway 24
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
47.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
71.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wasthington Street, Jefferson Street, Do...
9
71.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Jefferson Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.95 one way
$21.90 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.02 | $24.04 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.01 | $26.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.01 | $32.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.61 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Huntsville, AL
Night in Huntsville on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Trinity, AL
36 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, with 87% of your route consisting of highway travel. You will navigate primarily via Alabama Highway 24 and I-565, which provide a consistent rhythm for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 36.1 miles along Alabama Highway 24, where you can settle into a steady pace. This is not a technical or winding route; rather, it is a fast-paced transit that feels modern and direct. As you transition from the local stretches onto the interstate, the character of the drive shifts toward a more standard, high-speed highway experience, keeping your travel time predictable and your hands firmly on the wheel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on Alabama Highway 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Alabama Highway 24 and I 565. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (AL 24 / Alabama Highway 24): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.1 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
765 ft
569 ft
Total Climb
206 ft
Total Descent
326 ft
Highest Point
765 ft
Elevation Range
196 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Huntsville, AL
Full guide →Huntsville is in northern Alabama, about 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Tennessee. The city is a center for missile defense and aerospace technologies, with companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman having major operations here. Cummings Research Park, the second largest research park in the country, is home to many of these companies.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 72.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on Alabama Highway 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (AL 24 / Alabama Highway 24): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.1 miles (US 31 / 6th Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Huntsville, AL before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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